Power tool supporting cabinet with a detachable dust bin
A cabinet for supporting a platform for a power tool has a body constructed with three or more substantially vertical surfaces. One of the surfaces allows insertion of a removable dustbin. The removable dustbin may have a handle or recess to aid in insertion and removal and may have a window. One of the surfaces allows access to storage compartments, such as a blade/dado storage compartment, an inserts compartment, and a storage shelf compartment.
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The present invention generally relates to the field of support and storage structures, and particularly to a cabinet having storage compartments and a removable dustbin and upon which is mounted a platform for operating a power tool.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONWork cabinets are used for mounting power tool platforms. The power tools, especially saws and drills, produce debris that falls into the cabinet. Current cabinets allow the debris to just fall and accumulate on the floor. Over time, the debris builds up and needs to be disposed of. This buildup of debris has the potential of becoming a work hazard. For instance, fires may be more likely to occur if the debris build up is of a combustible material. Also, the debris may have a greater tendency to produce dust in the surrounding area of an enclosed work area so as to present a health hazard. Further, the debris buildup may actually cause the work cabinet to tilt.
Further, work cabinets have not been designed to maximize ergonomic benefits to the user. For instance, a user often has to travel away from the work cabinet to retrieve a tool from a toolbox or to find a schematic from a desk. This action of leaving the work cabinet area may be disruptive to maintaining a sufficient level of care for the work being performed. A temporary absence from the work area may result in a loss of the short-term memory used in performing tasks requiring concentration and continual sensory feedback.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a work cabinet that employs an efficient method for removing work debris and facilitate a user's access to tools, manuals, drawings, power tool components, and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, the present invention is directed to a cabinet for supporting a power tool work platform in which the cabinet has a removable dustbin for the collection of debris produced by operation of a power tool. The dustbin may have a trapezoidal, rectangular, triangular, or other shaped top opening and, preferably, has a window to facilitate determining when the debris buildup is sufficiently high for removal. Furthermore, the cabinet may have one or more compartments for the storage of work items, such as cutting blades, drill bits, manuals, and the like. For example, the compartments may include a blade/dado storage compartment, an inserts compartment, and a storage shelf compartment. The cabinet of the present invention provides an easily maintained and versatile workspace.
In a first aspect of the invention, a cabinet for supporting a power tool work platform has a three or more sided body that includes at least one storage compartment and a dustbin. The dustbin collects particulate debris produced by a power tool.
In a second aspect of the invention, a cabinet and work platform assembly includes a three-sided body, a dustbin insertable into and removable from the body, and a work platform mounted upon the body. The work platform supports a power tool.
It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
The numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
The present invention relates to a cabinet that supports a work platform, such as a platform for a table saw. The cabinet of the present invention, preferably, includes a dustbin and user convenient storage compartments. Although a preferred embodiment in
The cabinet body has one or more openings for compartments or bins having various functions. Although a removable dustbin 90 is preferably disposed at the side 12 of the cabinet 100, the dustbin 90 may be disposed at a front or rear of the cabinet 100. A funneling or guiding structure, such as a blade and/or shroud, may be included within the cabinet body to direct the dust or debris into the dustbin. The front 14 of the cabinet 100 has defined sections that provide easy accessibility to various work materials for a user. For example, there may be a blade/dado storage compartment 80, an inserts compartment 60, and a shelf storage compartment 42. Other arrangements may be employed. For example, there may be a fourth storage compartment. Also, the compartments may be located at a side or at the rear of the cabinet. The shelf storage compartment 42 may be protected by doors 40 or other means. Supporting the weight of the cabinet 100 are legs 20 that extend downward in a flared or straight manner.
Another exemplary embodiment of the cabinet includes wheels or castors attached to the cabinet corners. The wheels may be latchable so as to lock movement of the cabinet to two directions or may be lockable to completely prevent movement of the cabinet. Instead of or in addition to wheels, the cabinet may have pads. The pads may be adjustable so as to better stabilize the cabinet and work platform over uneven surfaces. The pads may even be used to selectively raise or lower portions of the cabinet to maintain an even or otherwise desired surface for the work platform.
Although, preferably, the cabinet is constructed from bent sheets of metal of sufficient strength to support a work platform, an alternative manufacture may use a framework of interconnected posts or beams. The posts may be solid or hollow and may have cross sections that are circular, oval, square, or rectangular. Sheets of strong, rigid, and durable material, such as metal, plastic, or wood, are attached to the framework. The sheets, with or without a framework, may be secured by screws, glue, bolts, rivets, welded joints, and the like.
Enhanced structural strengthening members may be added to the cabinet. For example, reinforcing posts, beams, ribs, and the like may be mounted between the substantially vertical side surfaces and/or posts of the cabinet body. The reinforcing elements may even form a reinforcing structure which extends as a three dimensional matrix through large portions of the interior of the cabinet.
A handle 96 is attached to the dustbin 90 to allow easy removal from the cabinet 100. The handle 96 may be of various shapes and sizes. The handle may be designed to act as a latch to secure the dustbin to the cabinet. A grippable and/or contoured handle surface may be provided to facilitate removal. Grippability may be improved by abrading portions or the handle's entire surface. Instead of a handle, the dustbin 90 may have a recess that may be contoured or treated to facilitate gripping.
Furthermore, dustbin 90 may be lockable to secure the dustbin in place to prevent unwarranted movement that may occur during transportation or through the operation of power tools on the supported work platform. The locking mechanism may be operated by a key or through actuation by the handle 96. A latching bar may be used to straddle across the outside facing side of the dustbin 90 so as to prevent removal.
The dustbin may have a variety of differently shaped top openings. Aside from a rectangular opening of
Instead of direct insertion within the cabinet body, the dustbin may be mounted on a hinged door via hooks or guide rails. Dustbin mounting elements may be made integral with the dustbin or may be attachable to the dustbin. For example, the mounting elements may be supported by adjustable metal bands or jackets that surround the dustbin. The dustbin shape may be cylindrical, rectangular, funnel shaped, or of another suitable shape. Removable bags for collecting dust and debris may be used to line the interior of the dustbin.
An exemplary embodiment of the cabinet upper level compartments is shown in a top view in
It is believed that the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the forgoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.
Claims
1. A cabinet for supporting a stationary power tool, comprising:
- a body having a top portion for supporting the stationary power tool, the stationary power tool being mounted to the top portion for securing the stationary power tool to the body while the stationary power tool performs an operation on a workpiece; and
- a dustbin received in a chamber disposed in the body for collecting debris generated by the stationary power tool performing the operation on the workpiece, the dustbin including a window for allowing a user to ascertain the amount of debris contained in the dustbin without removing the dustbin from the chamber formed in the body;
- wherein the dustbin is removable from chamber formed in the body for removal of the debris from the dustbin.
2. The cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dustbin slides into and out of the chamber formed in the body.
3. The cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top portion includes an opening for allowing debris generated by the stationary power tool to drop from the stationary tool into the dustbin.
4. The cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body includes a front surface and a side surface, the dustbin being removable from the chamber disposed in the body though the side surface.
5. The cabinet as claimed in claim 4, wherein the front surface includes a storage compartment.
6. The cabinet as claimed in claim 5, wherein the body comprises doors for enclosing the storage compartment.
7. A cabinet for supporting a table saw, comprising:
- a body having a top portion for supporting the table saw, the base of the table saw being mounted to the top portion or securing the table saw to the body while the table saw performs a cutting operation on a wooden workpiece; and
- a dustbin received in a chamber disposed in the body for collecting sawdust generated by the table saw performing the cutting operation on the wooden workpiece, the dustbin including a window for allowing a user to ascertain the amount of sawdust contained in the dustbin without removing the dustbin from the chamber formed in the body;
- wherein the dustbin is removable from chamber formed in the body for removal of the sawdust from the dustbin.
8. The cabinet as claimed in claim 7, wherein the dustbin slides into and out of the chamber formed in the body.
9. The cabinet as claimed in claim 7, wherein the top portion includes an opening for allowing sawdust generated by the stationary power tool to drop from the stationary tool into the dustbin.
10. The cabinet as claimed in claim 7, wherein the body includes a front surface and a side surface, the dustbin being removable from the chamber disposed in the body through the side surface.
11. The cabinet as claimed in claim 10, wherein the font surface includes a storage compartment.
12. The cabinet as claimed in claim 11, wherein the body comprises doors for enclosing the storage compartment.
13. The cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stationary power tool comprises a table saw.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Sep 25, 2002
Date of Patent: Nov 22, 2005
Assignee: Delta International Machinery Corp. (Jackson, TN)
Inventor: Leslie Daily Gist (Jackson, TN)
Primary Examiner: Allen Ostrager
Assistant Examiner: Shelley Self
Attorney: Suiter West PC LLO
Application Number: 10/254,712